Cleaning method and means



March 19, 1929. w. D. REID CLEANING METHOD AND MEANS Filed April 14, 1927 a I z INVENTOR. u illz'am D. Reid BY A TTORNEY Patented Mar. 19, 1929. v 1,705,998 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM D. REID, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CLEANING METHOD AND MEANS. Application filed April 14, 1927. Serial No. 183,824.

This invent-ion relates to improvements accumulations of ink from the type-faces on in cleaning methods and means, and more typewriters, or like material from like surparticularly to the removal of ink and llke faces, is not, for instance, by the process of material from non-absorptive surfaces, such, dissolving and brushing away, which iIi- 60 for instance, as to the periodic cleaning of volves abrasion, but rather by a process of typewriter type. absorption.

An object of the invention is to provide his conception of a new method of cleansimple manual means for quickly and conmg the type by the process of absorption veniently cleaning the type of typewriters then necessitated further experimenting to 10 from deposits of ink left by the ribbon durdevelop a substance which would be effective ing the use of the typewriter. An occaslonal and would cleanly remove all the ink without use of this invention keeps the type-faces leaving behind any of its own substance. forever perfectly clean. After considerable research, a substance, hav- Another object of the invention is to pro mg as a base a material known to the trade 70 1 vide a novel method of any such removal as kneaded rubber, was found to work or cleaning by the process of absorption, most satisfactorily. This material must be rather than the usual combined process of of the proper consistency and is procurable dissolving and brushing away, thus eliminatfrom the large rubber companies, and ining also any possible damage from abrasion. cludes ingredients now wellknown in the 75 A further object is to provide such a means arts. The peculiar property which it poswhich can be thus used inter-changeably on sesses of completely absorbing ink from a all well-known makes of typewriters. hard surface without at the same time leav- Yet another object is to provide such a ing behind a deposit of its own, is the quality device withmeans for conveniently and ecoused in this invention.

nomically replacing the absorbing material While a ball of this material, properly prewith fresh material when it has become pared, might be used in the fingers of the op clogged with the absorbed deposit. erator to clean the type by being positioned Finally, an object is to provide a convensuccessively over the various portions of type ient and cheap cover means for such a device on the average typewriter, the inventor has 85 that is quickly applied and prevents the abdevised a ver novel and convenient means sorbing material soiling or being soiled. I for accomplis ing this in a much more satis- Other objects will be apparent as the deactory and efficient manner. scription proceeds. This device consists of a handle 1, Fig. 1.

All these objects are attained by the methon one end of which is rotatably mounted a 90 ods hereinafter described, and the means ilroller 2, revolving around a shaft or pin 3.

lustrated in the accompanying drawing, in The surface of this roller 2 is composed of which kneaded rubber, or like absorbing material, 4.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the com- The roller 2 is shown in one form in crossplete cleaning device, adapted for use with section in Fig. 2. It here consists of two side 90 40 Underwood and Remington typewriters; plates, or discs, 5, usually of metal, separated 1g. 2, a partial cross-sectional view of the y a cylindrical core 6, preferably of wood, same device as Fig. 1, but adapted for use through all three of which there has been with L. C. Smith and Royal typewriters; Fig. punched or drilled an aligned concentric hole, 3, a perspective "iew of the stri of ab orbslightly larger than the diameter of the pin 100 ing material which is replacea ly applied on which itrevolves. This pin is of the shape to the device; Fig. 4, a side elevation and parof part numbered 3 1n Figs. 1 and 5, when the tial sectional view of the form of device device is to be used on Underwood and Remshown in Fig. 1 and containing the protective ington typewriters. When, however, it is to cover means in which it is sold and retained e used on Royal and L. C. Smith typewrit- 105 when not in use; and Fig. 5, a side view of ers, in view of a different arrangement in the the shaft or pin on which the roller revolves expo ure of the type, the form shown in Fig.

in the form shown in Fig. 1. 2 has been devised, all the parts of this form Similar numerals refer to similar parts being common to that of Fig. 1 with the exthroughout the several views. ception of the pin 3, which is here replaced 110 Long experimentation by the inventor has by pin :7, as shown. This pm has an essenshown that by far the best means of removing tially right angle turn at the top, so that the roller rotates in an approximately horizontal plane to the handle, instead of in a lateral plane as in Fig. 1. There is also a slight offset in the shank of the pin to permit the roller to rotate freely and without jamming in the necessarily slightly-rounded corner where the pin is bent; this method is used to reduce cost and without-resorting to forming an expensive shoulder on the pin or other means of accomplishment.

The kneaded rubber is preferably applied to the roller in the form of a strip, as shown in cross-section at 4, Fig. 2, and in perspective in Fig. 3.

The pins are, the roller.

The assembly of the form shown in Fig. l is made by simply placing pin 3 through the hole of roller 2 and hammering it into the handle 1, or otherwise securing it, allowing enough clearance between the respective sides of the roller, and the head of the pin and the end of the handle, to permit free rotation of the roller. In assembling the forms shown in Fig. 2, however, the pin 7 is first affixed to handle 1, the roller is then positioned over the bend of the pin, and finally, the pin is headed as shown, and in such manner, again, as to permit free rotation of the roller.

These devices are preferably sold wrapped in a container of the form shown in Fig. 4, which consists essentially of a cup-shaped cardboard cover 8, usually pressed from a fiat sheet, along the edge of which is fastened a strip of relatively thin paper 9, which is folded or bunched up around the top of the handle, in manner as shown, to completely encase the cleaning roller. This covering not ony protects the device in shipment, but is also useful in preventing smearing of desk drawers, and so forth, when in use, as well as keeping out the air preventing thematerial from drying up. With this last in mind, the container should be waxed or otherwise made impervious to moisture.

The strips of absorbing material can be sold in the form shown in Fig. 3 to replace the worn out and ink-clogged material on the device, which, however, has been found to work satisfactorily for a long period of months before such replacement is necessary. These strips of material are conveniently sold in envelopes, and for a price that is only a fraction of the total cost of the device, which itself is comparatively small. This will establish a repeat business, which is so desirable from a selling angle.

In operation, the typist merely takes the device in his or her hand and places the gummed surface of the roller on the typeof course, headed, to retain writer type, the handle extending laterally of their assembly, and then rolls the roller across the surface of all the type, down one side and up the other, and so repeating a number of times until the surface of the type is clean and shiny, and all of the ink has been absorbed into the rubber material on the roller face.- The kneaded rubber blots this into itself, and in time creeps around to absorb it and present a more or less fresh surface to absorb more in As stated, this process may be repeated scores of times before the efficiency of the device is appreciably impaired.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not limited thereto. To those skilled in the art, many modifications of the invention, whether of the device, method, or composition of material, will be readily apparent, and it will also be obvious to such skilled persons that part of the invention may be used without other parts thereof, many such combinations of the parts and steps readily suggesting them selves Therefore, it should be, and is to be distinctly understood that for a definition of the limitations of the invention, reference must be had to the appended claims. Having now described the invention, what is new, and for which Leters Patent of the United States is desired, is:

1. A device for cleaning typewriter type,

including a handle and kneadable absorption" means rotatablymounted on the handle to be rolled across the surface of the type.

2. In combination, a handle, a pin in the handle, and a roller rotatably mounted on the pin to rotate in a plane at right angles to the handle, and, its surface being covered with ink absorbing kneadable material. v

3. In combination, a concentrically bored cylindrical member, "a disc on each side of said member and somewhat larger in diameter, a strip of non-hardening kneadable material between the discs and around the periphery of the member, the assemblage being adapted to be rotatably mounted.

4. In combination, a handle, a disc having a central hole and aeripheral groove, a headed pin extending connected with the handle rotatably mounting the disk on the handle, and an endless strip of non-hardening non adhesive kneadable material along said groove.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this 12th day of April, A. D. 1927.

WILLIAM. D. REID.

11o tirough the hole and 

